"Goliath" The name sounds cool. That is what sparked the attention to the route in the first place. Plus, the summit of the Lost Brother had not been obtained yet.

After pestering Eric Gabel (one of the FA) for a bit of information, he promptly sent some nice tidbits concerning the mammoth warrior, among others. Actually, there wasn't any real pestering though. Just kidding. I asked and he simply gave and gave. I love it. Keeps the mind busy with ideas of further adventure. Thank you!

Lets go ahead about a year, or so later from my internet retrieval of information on Goliath.

In that time the battle with this giant was staged on at least three different occasions with three different people. This premeditated battle just didn't work out ever due to multiple issues. Memory says it was mostly due to me with things like health of body and/or mind, and work opportunities. Oh, and the possibility of being just a bit intimidated. As in, "Yeah, that route Goliath sure seems a bit big for today. Lets go to The Pulpit!"

So, this young guy shows up to climb for a few weeks. He has the same name as me. We are the Bobs.

This other Bob has shared a rope with me on routes such as West Face of El Cap, Chouinard/Herbert, and a nice day on Fairview with a trifecta of Heart of Stone, What Would Jeff Do, and The Regular Route. This guy can climb and has more spunk than my aging ass, but he still hadn't jumped on an "adventure route" in the Valley to help round out his bag of tricks for future sends. Goliath would be a perfect way to round out his experiences and allow us the pleasure of a genuine adventure route together. Maybe even a second ascent, though my rational mind says that most likely wouldn't be the case in 12 years. Who knows?.

And it was a grand adventure as any route with a name and description such as this should be. Complete with interesting route finding for the initial pitches, moss, munge, and loose blocks to which the climber and the climber's rope needed to avoid. There was also this insidious lichen which imitated grey granite near the top of the route on the last pitch. Don't put your foot there or "POP!" Had me fooled. Good SH#T.

Here are some photos. These were taken with an old and very possessed Iphone. They are not quality photos, but show you folk this grand intimidator of armies named Goliath.

And the payoff. Incredible stemming onto an arete for the final moves.

Credit: bob

Take this pack man. The next pitch looks wide and wide a little more.

Credit: bob

Heading up through the two roofs, linking two pitches.

Credit: bob

First roof almost done. NOT! The second was the business. #6 Business.

Credit: bob

Nice to take in views after puking.

Credit: bob

Looking grand up here! This pitch went to the arete after the next tree. Really good stuff.

Credit: bob

Oh right, the views.

Credit: bob

Yup, there are a lot of trees up there, but the terrain gets steep and airy.

Credit: bob

A horribly fuzzy shot of a very fun chimney not like many.

Credit: bob

He's happy now!!!!

Credit: bob

Last pitch to the summit. Awesome, wild, cavernous, strenuous, and watch out for that spongy lichen which imitates granite.

Credit: bob

Ahhhhh

Credit: bob

Very nice. Even with a fur ball.

Credit: bob

We did it!

Credit: james tissot

Big Line

Credit: Eric Gabel

Missing photo ID#371678

RECOMMENDED GEAR ON TOPO: leather sling and 5 stones. Ha! just kidding. Doubles to 6 and possible 8" tube thingy if you happen to be big.

GEAR WE TOOK: Doubles to 6 No tube thingy. I'm a pole and the other Bob is a midget.

GEAR WE RECOMMEND AFTER CLIMBING THE ROUTE: Doubles to 3. Singles of 4,5,6 new style camalots or the like. This rack will require some punching skills on wide or the simple skill of walking a big piece here, or there. Doubles to 6 is a huge F-ING rack for a pole and a midget. The bushes like a huge rack too!

There is a reasonable rap down a new route called "Call of the Yeti" which will require two 70 m ropes or two 60 m ropes using some shenanigans on the lip of very steep terrain. Gulp. Info on Sloan's Site. Google it.

The route stays in the shade all day for the most part. As one climbs up, the route itself twists around the front of the formation as the sun twists around the back. Pretty cool! Literally.

We linked 4 and 5, 6 and 7.
Overall, this is a grand adventure route that goes to one of the best summits. Such a great, earned perspective of Yosemite Valley.

Bob, this is a really great adventure, and that pic of the last pitch to the summit is wild and hairy looking. Does Eric have his own appreciation thread here yet?

Biotch, if you get benighted on Lower Brother and watch all the features that appear in the morning sunshine over on Lost Brother, that is enough to make you want to move up there and just spend weeks exploring.

Yeah Kevin, have to love that lichen!!! Was up climbing Gabel/Dignes on Supernova (mosstrum) and love that side. Definitely did some moss jamming. Quite soft on the back of the hands. Haunted House looks sick and will be done by me this year. Just plain fun looking! I sent you an email concerning the area, but think maybe you didn't get it. I'd love to chat about some stuff there and some other locations.
Goliath is a 5.10 route. Can you click the image then enlarge it? Its a pretty good sized image to keep it clear.

Due to a domestic explosion I have no email and didn't receive your correspondence.

Haunted House is surprisingly good, I think you'll find. The first 30 ft corner's a bit verdant, but should be no big for a jungle explorer such as yourself. The roof on the second pitch is one of the wildest I've encountered, and the bulk of two pitches is amazingly clean and solid.

I'm sure you're scoping things I know too much about... Including stuff on Lost Brother.

Micronut, then David used Goliath's sword to cut his head off from what I can gather. While getting some images for this TR I came accross this TED Talk concerning David and Goliath. Its an interesting take. To me, at least, with my less than adequate knowledge of the story. Its a short and fun listen though. That guy Malcolm Gladwell is a trip!

2 Samuel 21:20 speaks about a man of great stature that had 6 fingers on each hand and 6 toes with a total of 24 fingers and toes. this mans is sometimes confused with Goliath. but there should be no confusion. this man was killed by Jonathan the son of Shimea, David's brother. so it is unknown if Goliath had 6 fingers.